Eastern Band to retrace portion of Trail of Tears

A retracing of the northern route of the Trail of Tears will be held May 18-26 in a collaboration of the Eastern Band and the United Keetoowah Band and Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma.

Members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will travel to Oklahoma to join with the United Keetowah Band and the Cherokee Nation in a coming together to celebrate a communal healing time. Eastern Band members will stop at significant locations along the way where the Cherokees camped, and thousands died, to offer up prayers and healing ceremonies.

A homecoming will be held Friday, May 25, at the Kituwah Mound near Cherokee. On Saturday, May 26, there will be a Universal Gathering on the sacred grounds of Kituwah to honor and celebrate the Cherokees who undertook the Journey to Forgiveness and Healing.